Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, left, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Indira Bhavan ahead of consultations with the Congress leadership, in New Delhi | Photo Credit: TH

Amid intensifying speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a series of meetings with the Congress high command in New Delhi on Tuesday, with discussions reportedly centred around the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections.

Congress leaders, however, publicly downplayed reports of a possible leadership transition in the State. Party general secretary K C Venugopal said after the meeting that deliberations with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were focused entirely on the Rajya Sabha and Council polls.

“Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and I were part of the discussion. The entire deliberation was focused on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections. Whatever speculation is being made has no basis in reality. Candidates for both polls will be announced along with those for other States such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan,” Venugopal said.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who has long been seen as a contender for the Chief Minister’s post, also attended the Delhi meetings along with senior Congress leaders and party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala.

According to a media report by The Hindu, Siddaramaiah also held a one-on-one meeting with Rahul Gandhi, while later huddling with close aides and loyalist ministers, including Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa and legal adviser A S Ponnanna at the Delhi residence of Minister K J George.

On Wednesday, Siddaramaiah held another breakfast meeting with senior ministers and party leaders at Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi ahead of a fresh round of discussions with the high command. Senior ministers G Parameshwara, M B Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, KJ George, and Byrathi Suresh attended the meeting, along with MLC BK Hariprasad.

No immediate change

While party insiders indicated to The Hindu that there may be no immediate change in leadership, discussions around a possible Cabinet reshuffle and power-sharing arrangement have continued to gain traction within Congress circles.

Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, said he would speak on the matter on Thursday. Sources close to the developments indicated that greater clarity may emerge after the breakfast meeting between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister at the former’s Kaveri residence.

Meanwhile, Home Minister G Parameshwar said the breakfast meetings were not unusual and stressed that the party would abide by the Congress high command’s direction.

“This isn’t the first time the CM has called ministers for a breakfast meeting. Our AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala, is coming tomorrow. Whatever he says, we will follow because he follows the High Command,” Parameshwar told reporters.

Published on May 27, 2026